How do we as humans receive knowledge? This question is one of the most thought out and discussed questions throughout the ages.  Almost all philosophers have tried to obtain their own answer to this question.  Philosophy is the study of one’s own ideas and answering universal questions.  Four philosophers that will be written about are Plato, Rene Descartes, David Hume, and Bertrand Russell.  The best and worst part about philosophy is there isn’t a right or wrong answer because it’s about the philosopher’s beliefs.

            The first philosopher is Plato.  Plato’s main belief of knowledge is that knowledge comes from recollection, and that our soul has learned everything before now.  He also believes in reincarnation so our soul is reborn multiple times until we become a true “Lover of Wisdom” (Phadeo).  After each life our soul learns new things and adds to its knowledge after each life time.  Referring to that idea Plato said, “As the soul is immortal, has been born often, and has seen all things here and in the underworld, there is nothing which it has not learned; so it is in no way surprising that it can recollect the things it knew before, both about virtue and other things” (Meno 81d).  Our soul already knows all knowledge and it is up to ourselves to bring it out of us; Plato also said, “And he will know it without having been taught but only questioned, and find the knowledge within himself” (Meno 85d).  Plato gives an example of “the square” where he asks this young man if he knows this certain mathematical problem, and the young man assured him that he doesn’t know anything about the problem.  So he starts with questioning him about the square and about adding size to the square.  As time goes on he asks series of questions that adds more knowledge to how to solve this problem.  In the end the young man solves and understands the square, Plato says, “I shall do nothing more than ask questions and not teach him” (Meno 84d).  Another example Plato gives to disprove senses is not the way to discover knowledge and that recollection is the way to knowledge, is the two equal sticks.  Two sticks may appear to be the same because they look the same width and length, but one stick really has knots and curves out.  You use your knowledge from within yourself to know the two sticks aren’t the same or equal.  Adding, Plato can’t believe in physical objects.  “The body confuses the soul and does not allow it to acquire truth and wisdom whenever it is associated with it,” believed Plato.

            Another great philosopher is Rene Descartes.  When it comes to knowledge Descartes believes that knowledge and ideas are forced into us by god or external bodies, and he can’t trust in physical objects.  He also believes in the Evil Demon Thought Experiment, which is assuming there is an evil spirit who tries to deceive us about everything.  So we can’t be positive about our sense perception, “senses are sometimes deceptive” (Descartes 14), because it might be a trick by the evil spirit.  That leads us to the question, are we alive?  We know we are alive because in order to be deceived by the evil spirit we must be alive.  Another idea Descartes believes in is the Wax Thought Experiment.  When wax melts and turns from a solid to a liquid and changes appearance we know it’s the same thing just in a different state, and we know this not because of perception or imaginary but because of pure reason.  Therefore knowledge comes to us by intellect, and our mind is better to us than our body.  “I am therefore precisely nothing but a thinking thing; that is, a mind, or intellect, or understanding, or reason—words of whose meanings I was previously ignorant.  Yet I am a true thing and am truly existing; but what kind of thing? I have said it already: a thinking thing” (Descartes 19), reflected Descartes. 

            The third philosopher is David Hume.  He believes that all knowledge comes through our senses, and that our impressions turn into our ideas.  Hume wrote, “All our ideas or more feeble perceptions are copies of our impressions or more lively ones” (Hume 11).  He also believes “there to be only three principles of connexion among ideas, namely, resemblance, contiguity in time or place, and cause or effect” (Hume 14).  When it comes to matters of fact and relations of ideas we use reason.  David Hume also is a believer in cause and effect, “what is the nature of all our reasoning concerning matter of fact? . . . they are founded on the relation of cause and effect,” (Hume 21).  Through cause and effect we learn that A is followed by b, i.e. lightning is followed by thunder.  Although, Hume doesn’t know what makes cause and effect possible. 

            Lastly¸ Bertand Russell believes in external objects and we rely on sensory perception.  He gives an example of the table to help the argument between appearances vs. reality.  When we look at a table we can see the color, texture, shape, and size.  But as we get closer or the table moves, everything changes from what we previously saw, and also if many people look at the same table there will not be any two same appearances.  “Because experiences has taught us to construct the ‘real’ shape from the apparent shape, and the ‘real’ shape is what interests us as practical men.  But the ‘real’ shape is not what we see; it is something inferred from what we see.  And what we see is constantly changing in shape as we move about the room,” (Hume 11) said Hume.  From all our senses we gain sense data about an object for example the table earlier talked about.  All we experience are ideas, but we never experience physical objects.  Even though we can’t experience physical objects the ‘Cat Argument’ proves external objects are real.  A cat is in one part of the room and we can see it, but when we leave the room does the cat still exist or is it just sense data?  We leave the cat, and when we return the cat will be hungry, tired, and in a different location, which shows that the cat exists independently of our minds and really exists. 

            Among all the philosophers Plato and Descartes are similar to each other; also Hume and Russell are similar to each other.  Empiricism means the doctrine that all knowledge ultimately consists of what is acquired by sensory perception and Plato along with Descartes fall into that group.  In contrast Hume and Russell are rationalists where they believe the doctrine that all knowledge is derived from the contents and operations of the mind alone from pure reason.  Another belief is Hume and Russell believes in physical objects and external objects; whereas Plato and Descartes cannot trust in physical objects.

            I believe in a mixture of all these philosophies.  First off I believe in recollection from the knowledge of our soul, but I also think our soul doesn’t know everything.  We have to learn things on our own through experiences.  Another idea I believe in is sensory perception.  Our senses give us ideas and knowledge, but we also use reason corresponded with our sense data.  These four philosophers’ beliefs are on the extreme of both scales, but I would put my trust in the middle of both.  Things from both sides working together help us reach the fullest of knowledge.  God gives us our mind and body to work together to achieve greatness in this life, but we will never fully understand or have all knowledge while being alive.  I do believe with Plato where we will have all knowledge when we die and how we shouldn’t be scared of death, but rather accept it when the time is right.  Although, I do not think our souls will go through the cycle of reincarnation.  We will only live one life and we better not ruin the chances we receive during this one lifetime.  If we give our all and try our hardest in this life, our father in heaven will help make up the rest for us once we pass away.

And now Jennifer Aniston has come ahead to acknowledge her new mind-set has come from being in her 40s.

The celebrity is seen displaying her tight and ripped determine in little more than a dark-colored bra and miniskirt as she creates in a cheap london escorts new photograph for Many GQ journal.

She said in the associated with interview: ‘Forty’s great! Oh, my God, my thirties and forties blew! Forties are excellent.’

Jennifer also unveiled in the appointment that she has put on some bodyweight after giving up using tobacco. However, the actress’ statements are somewhat challenging to believe, by the attractive injections of the 43-year-old celebrity.

She said: ‘Well, I lately stop using tobacco, and you do put on some additional pounds! It is important, especially if you’re not 20.’

Jennifer is registered in the photograph by her Wanderlust co-star John Rudd, who is seen playfully panting while the celebrity pretends to take him by his tie.

In the appointment, Jennifer, who is in a satisfied connection with acting professional Justin Theroux, also talks about rumours on when she will begin a household.

She said: ‘I think individuals maybe want me to have a kid now. I still type of go with, if it happens, it happens.

‘I’m relaxed and relaxing with whatever the strategy is. It’s not something where I’m going, “I have to have a kid!”

‘I’m illustrating the range on the kids discussion. I’m not having triplets. Not having twin babies. Nor am I having one child. I did not elope… You observed it here. I’m not broken up now.’

While Jennifer is more than satisfied with Justin, as she unveiled at her latest wedding when she spoiled in a enthusiastic PDA time with her love, she talked about how a connection changes eventually.

The celebrity, who is separated from Kaira Pitt, said: ‘It’s a increasing, basically existing element. There’s going to be increasing cramping, there’s going to be uncomfortable times — your lanky stage, your pimpled stage. I think that’s the great element about a connection.

‘But if the street begins to diverge and one individual is increasing this way and the other is increasing that way… Sometimes that can occur and you can remain together, and sometimes you can’t.’

Whitney Houston another fallen star in our time. Whitney Houston sang with grace, as she blessed the world with only a voice that God can give you. Survived by her 18 year old daughter. Whitney Houston will always be loved and remember for her love and faith she had in God May her soul rest in peace. Whitney WE LOVE YOU AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!!!!!!!!

From your friend winnona1306@triond.com

Read more: http://authspot.com/poetry/whitney-houston-another-fallen-star/#ixzz1mGl58tWw

Happiness is the goal, or happiness is the result of another purpose? Happiness is the meaning of life or happiness is the result of discovering what has heart and meaning for you?

There is no correct answer to this question. The answer lies within us all about what gives meaning to our lives.

What gives meaning to your life?

Perhaps, in the pursuit of happiness, we discover what has heart and meaning for us. Is this the way it is for you? Or is it the other way around for you? Happiness is the result of that love yourself and others? Do you think when you are open and loving, you feel full of happiness?

Perhaps love and happiness are inseparable. Maybe when we’re happy, we naturally love, and maybe when we love, we experience happiness. If this is the case then is the purpose of life is to seek happiness, or is the purpose of life to evolve on our ability to be loving and compassionate with ourselves and others?

In my opinion, it is important to separate love and happiness. The important thing is to discover what gives meaning to your life. In my experience, the meaning always has to do with love – with yourself and discover how to love wants to share his love with others. Upon discovering this, is likely to be happy.

Perhaps the meaning of life is to discover what has heart and meaning for you and, therefore, you bring happiness. The questions to ask are:

    * what was the heart and it means to me?
    * Which brings me joy?

Monitoring of Happiness

she decided early in his life he had the heart and meaning for her was getting married and having children. She had decided that if he had no children when she was 43, that life is not worth living. She started working with me when I was 42, unmarried, childless, and plans to take his life.

As part of its work deep inside, Gillian discovered another source of meaning in life. She found that learning to love yourself – the spark of God really is – has been very satisfying for her. While practicing to get to know and love your true self, discovered another source of meaning – helping others. She realized that working in finance did not pay and returned to school to become a chiropractor.

Gillian likes to help people achieve excellent health now. It also adopted a 10 year old girl whose parents died in an accident. She found great joy and meaning to love his adopted daughter.

Gabriel has consulted with me because he was depressed. He became a lawyer because that’s what his father was, but I thought I hated. He held no heart and meaning for him. In his soul, Gabriel knew he was a writer. He decided to “follow your bliss” as Joseph Campbell encouraged us to do so. While Gabriel is doing now about the money he earned as a lawyer, it is to find happiness. By choosing to love yourself and share your love through their creativity, it is to find joy.

Love, happiness, joy – maybe they are all one. If you decide to continue what has heart and meaning for you, you will likely find your happiness.

For Noah and his family, there came a day, prior to the flood, when they were told to enter the ark, and the LORD shut him in (Gen. 7:16). This shows the special attention and personal care that God gives to all who are faithful to Him. All who wait for a more convenient time to be saved need to realize that it is an insult to God who said: Now is the accepted time . . . now is the day of salvation (II Cor. 6:2). Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it (Heb. 4:1).

Just as Noah was able to rest within the ark, secure from the waters of death, Christians can be assured of spiritual rest, for our lives are hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). As soon as he was once again on dry land, Noah builded an altar unto the LORD . . . and offered burnt offerings on the altar (Gen. 8:20). The obedience of faith and the worship of God go hand in hand. Just as Noah was not given an exact day when the flood would come, neither do we know the day that we will face the Lord either through death or at His Coming.

Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels (messengers) of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew (understood) not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. . . . Therefore be . . . ready (Matt. 24:36-39,44).

Thought for Today:

And I will establish My Covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth (Gen. 9:11).

It is a sad day when your son comes to you and ask, “Can the government kick ___ race from the country?”.  At the young age of 11, to ask that question, shows that is truly something wrong with the government of the day!  How do you expect people to have the sense of patriotism when even the children think that they will be kicked out of the country?

Respect

As children, we were always thought to respect others and their culture.   Respect goes both ways.  You should not expect respect without giving respect.   However, all too often, the power that be expect everyone else to expect their culture and religion but do not give back in return.  

One example, is the dishes served in a compulsory training program.  The food served represent sacred animal of a specific religion but is served without any consideration for that culture.   This is hypocrisy in the highest order.

faith (Photo credit: Jeff Attaway)

Natives

In all countries, there are the original natives of the land.   However, in the pursuit of greed, this definition has been hijacked and many of those who claim to be natives and enjoy special privileges are not even from this country.  Meanwhile, the true natives are cast aside and live in abject poverty.  Their land are stolen and people raped by workers in the companies belonging to powerful warlords!

To make things worst, many illegals are given citizenship without due process.  All in making sure those in power continue to remain in power.

Religion

Religion is used and manipulated.  These are all done in the name of protecting the faith.  However, if you analyze the situation, the very act insults the faith, they claim to protect.   

Their believe is their faith is so weak that those of the faith can be easily turned – by reading the the book from other faith or even listening to mp3 of other faith.

Those who convert to their faith are also considered to transfer all their worldly belong to that faith.  Meaning the inheritance cannot be passed to their family if the rest of the family is not of that faith.    You cannot have two masters – you have to choose between God or worldly posession.     Clearly, this sound like the latter.

In that religion, it is compulsory to pay a percentage of the income to help the poor and yet so many of the poor in that religion has to get help from the charitable organizations of other faith.  Since those of that religion makes up majority of the country, where do the collection go?

Language

Language unites the people.  Often the country has their national language for this purpose.  However, it is difficult when

1. you are not allowed to use the language to pray!   
2. most of the original words are discarded and replaced with badly spelt words of another language.

Education

Education standards are lowered to help a certain group of people pass.  The higher education is also restricted to that group of people.  This has resulted in lower level of education quality.   Many of these graduates can’t even do basic communication.

Also a lot of institutions are set up for profit without quality.   Those who have employed graduates from these institutions have complained about the ability of these graduates and quite often these institutions get blacklisted.

As a result, those children who go into these institutions will end up with worthless pieces of paper that is neither recognized locally nor outside the country.   

Conclusion

It is sad to see all these problems and sometimes as concerned parents, we feel helpless.   What would you do?

Other articles of interest:
Vote with Your Wallet
Faith and Religion
Education (Or in Name only)

Perfection is the ongoing state of God’s oneness living in its un-potentialised perfection of itself dormantly being stored in the infinite energy of unrealised love. When love moves between the created imperfect parts, so called only because they are presently unconscious of their own position within God’s oneness of perfection, the consciousness to see this perfection in their seeming state of imperfection is thereby so created. The parts become conscious of their own position within oneness, and so all eventually takes, or more retakes, its rightful place within perfection, once more again.

The whole idea of God’s creation is to bring conscious reality of his unconsciously dormant truths to each created part of himself, and then to bring to each part the same knowing that God has. Each part finally becomes God within God, knowingly instead of just unknowingly, as before.

Life is agitating you in its way to try to stretch you back into perfection again from your seemingly imperfect position in your trying to be your real self from your false self. You need to be your real self first, and so drop this false self altogether.

Oneness is always perfect, but then it becomes illusion-ally imperfect to its infinite parts, but whilst still retaining its overall perfection.

All of oneness is perfect, but it agitates itself in order to bring back to itself any part that thinks itself to be seemingly separately created. This is like waves running through oneness that are still it, but they still take on a separate existence for a short time as well. The wave might not be a perfect wave as it comes in all its varied differing shapes and sizes, but to the individual wave itself, it is in fact still always perfect. It is just to another wave it is sometimes seen as being seemingly not perfect, because it is seen to be a different wave than itself.

We are all perfect as ourselves, and imperfection only ever arises when we falsely compare ourselves with any of these so called other waves.

Perfection can never be lessened at any time, unless you yourself lessen it by wanting it to happen. When you want something that you already have you hide it from yourself by wearing this cloak of falseness. You are already perfect, you are only growing the consciousness to be able to see this as being exactly so.

Does our beginning consciousness initially cause our thought that we are imperfect then, before we grow it further enough to help us to remove this idea or thought of our being somehow imperfect, or flawed in some way, or another?

Oneness has no consciousness of itself.

Consciousness is an added on part of the parts that is a field that gathers around that part as much as it loves. Yes, in the beginning our consciousness could be said to be undeveloped or imperfect, but as it grows from your ongoing experiences with love, and by gaining an understanding of Love’s truths, you will finally reach the higher forms of consciousness that shows you then that it is merely an imperfect mirror for seeing oneness from. The consciousness of the parts can join together to form a larger group consciousness as well.

Even this consciousness can never show you the full picture though, and eventually to return yourself fully realised again to God, you must also finally drop even this imperfect vehicle of consciousness.

The spiritual journey could then be said to be a journey that is taking us from perfection to perfection, via the imperfect lens of our own consciousness. When God created free parts within himself, he gave himself something to love. When this part allows them-self to receive God’s love, and then also allows it to flow uninterruptedly through themselves without trying to divert its flow, or to change it within any way, consciousness is formed around that part, like a magnetic field forms around electricity moving through a wire.

This consciousness builds itself into a stronger field as we learn about love’s truths from each and every experience that we go through. Every experience brings us another new lesson from love. All energy is love’s energy. Eventually we reach a level of consciousness called God consciousness, from which we then see clearly our own position within God. We move back into God then, and so our consciousness is again all dissipated as we live from real knowing then, rather than only from its mirror, and which has been our consciousness.

Yes, God consciousness is not the ending, but the mere beginning of your ongoing journey with God, going first into, and then journeying through God’s love.

This is like the martial artist who, upon earning his black belt, is told by his master, that this point in his journey is where his real journey begins. When his black belt has again faded back to being white again, only then will he be starting to approach real mastery of the martial arts.

The belt itself has been imperfectly perfect the whole time, and in the end it shows to the student his own level of perfect imperfection.

Imperfectly perfect is seen to be the same as perfectly imperfect. The perfection of imperfection is complete.

There are hundreds of circumstances, values, and emotions that can drive your life. Here are five of the most common ones:

1. Many people are driven by guilt. They spend their entire lives running from regrets and hiding their shame. Guilt-driven people are manipulated by memories. They allow their past to control their future. They often unconsciously punish themselves by sabotaging their own conscience. God’s purpose is not limited by your past.

2. Many people are driven by resentment and anger.They hold on to hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain through forgiveness, they rehearse it over and over in their mind. Some resentment-driven people “clam-up” and internalize their anger, while others “blow-up” and explode it onto others. Both responses are unhealthy and unhelpful. To worry yourself with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do.

3. Many people are driven by fear.Their fear may be a result of a traumatic experience, unrealistic expectation, growing up in a high-control home, or even genetic predisposition. Regardless of the cause, fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they’re afraid to venture out. Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intend for you to do.

4. Many people are driven by materialism. Their desire to acquire becomes the whole goal of their lives. This drive to always want more is based on the misconceptions that having more will make me happy, more important, and more secure, but all three ideas are untrue. Possessions only provide temporary happiness. Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you- your relationship with God.

5. Many people are driven by the need for approval.They allow the expectations of parents or spouses or children or teachers or friends to control their lives. Others are driven by peer pressure, always worried by what others might think. Unfortunately, those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it. I don’t know all the keys to success, but one key to failure is to try to please everyone. Being controlled by the opinions of others is a guaranteed way to miss God’s purpose for your life.

There are other forces that can drive your life but all lead to the same dead end: unused potentials, unneccessary stress, and an unfulfilled life.

God give us peace and understanding.

He will help you through you all your trails that we go through.

God is faithful.

He will help us change from the inside out.

I have tried to do it on my own without him.

Without Him we are nothing.

Will you let Him come into your heart today?

He will help us in time in trouble.

He is always on time.

He is there to help us through the difficult times.

Prayer and the word of God are the two weapons we need to have.

We also need to put on the whole armor of God.